Melissa Miller, who served as a trustee for the Lake Orion Community School District, has resigned and has begun a new job this week.

Therefore, the Board of Education is accepting applications from qualified residents for a partial year board appointment as a trustee. The position runs from March 2014 through December 2014.

Since this is a partial term and an appointed position, the vacant seat will be placed on the November 2014 ballot to fill the remainder of the term, which expires on December 31, 2016.

Miller began reading her letter of resignation to the board during their meeting Wednesday, February 12 before handing it off to trustee Connie Meech between a few tears.

“It is an honor and privilege to serve the students, parents, and staff of Lake Orion Community Schools and I am thankful for the experience,” she said to fellow trustees.

Her resignation was due to a new career opportunity that she began this week.

“The best part of serving was definitely the students and staff and making decisions based on the best interest of our students, celebrating their success, and advocating for public education. It was a wonderful experience,” she said.

Superintendent Marion Ginopolis said Miller was the first person Ginopolis met when she was appointed to the board.

“Everyone is very sad. She was a wonderful board member,” Ginopolis said. “She’s very level headed, very involved, and very passionate about kids. She’s going to be greatly missed.”

Miller was secretary of the board, and sat on the superintendent evaluation subcommittee and finance subcommittee.

Board policy requires that board members be U.S. citizens as well as registered voters of the Lake Orion school district.